Vocabulary: Idioms, Lesson 5: Advanced level III

This is our last lesson! This is going to be a new advanced lesson. I hope you have learnt a lot with my help, though I know vocabulary could be one of the most boring parts of studying English. In compensation, my next post will be a new revision play, I promise!


to slow down: to go, or cause to go, more slowly (also: to slow up). This idiom can be used both with and without an object.

-The car was going so fast that the motorist couldn't slow it down enough to make the sharp curve.

            -You're eating too fast to digest your food well. Slow down!
            -Slow up a bit! You're talking so quickly that I can't catch on well.

to dry up: to lose, or cause to lose, all moisture; to be depleted.

- Every summer the extreme heat in this valley dries the stream up.

- All funds for the project dried up when the local government faced budget crisis. 

to dry out: to lose, or cause to lose, moisture gradually; to stop drinking alcohol in excess (also: to sober up)

- Martha hung the towel outside on the clothesline in order to dry it out.

-Some people go to alcohol recovery centers in order to dry out. 

to be up to (something): to be doing something; to be planning or plotting something, scheming. The first definition usually takes the form of a question.

-Hi, Jake. I haven't seen you in a long time. What have you been up to?

-Those boys hiding behind the building must be up to something bad. 

to beat around the bush: to avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue.
            -Our boss beats around the bush so much that no one in the office knows exactly what he wants us to do.

-Instead of beating around the bush, Melinda explained her objection in very clear terms. 

to come to an end: to end, to stop. This idiom is used with finally and never when some activity lasts too long.

-The meeting finally came to an end at ten o'clock in the evening.

-Even though my friend seemed to enjoy the movie, I thought that it would never come to an end.

to put an end to: to cause to end, to terminate in a definite manner (also: to do away with)
            -The dictatorial government put an end to organized opposition in the country by making it illegal to form a political party.
            -It may never be possible to do away with all forms of prejudice and discrimination in the world. 

to get even with: to seek revenge, to retaliate.

-Bill has had it in for his boss for a long time. He told me he's planning to get even with his boss by giving some company secrets to a competitor.

-I want to get even with Steve for beating me so badly in tennis last time. 

to fool around: to waste time (also: to screw around); to joke, not to be serious.

-The teacher got angry because her students were fooling around and couldn't finish their work before the end of class.

-Sometimes I wish that Pat would stop fooling around so much and talk about something more interesting to others. 

to look out on: to face, to overlook.
            -We really enjoy our new apartment that looks out on a river.

-Their rear window looks out on a lovely garden. 

to stir up: to cause anger; to create (trouble or difficulty).

-The senseless murder of a small child stirred up the whole neighborhood.

-The boss is in a bad mood today so don't stir her up with any more customer complaints. 

to take in: to visit in order to enjoy; to decrease the size of clothes; to deceive, to fool.

-We decided to take in Toronto on our trip to Canada, and that is where we took in the most memorable outdoor stage play we have ever seen.

-Lois lost so much weight that she had her skirts and slacks taken in by her tailor.

-The fraudulent investment advisor took everyone in with his sincere manner and generous promises. Most investors lost all their money.